Local places · 3636 stories
Restaurants in Korea, told firsthand by local bloggers — with photos and Google Maps.
Donggok Jemyeon Daegu Dongseong-ro Main Branch is a handmade-noodle Korean restaurant in Jung-gu, Daegu. I tried the seafood chive pancake set, Hanwoo beef-bone kalguksu, yukgaejang kalguksu, and extra-concentrated chicken kalguksu. Verdict: a filling pick when you want kalguksu topped with half a chicken.
Matdongsam Beomeo Main Branch is a pork barbecue restaurant in Suseong, Daegu. I had five-layer pork belly and pork jowl with stir-fried kimchi and barley doenjang, plus a generous complimentary doenjang jjigae. Verdict: fresh pork and excellent accompaniments made this a very satisfying meal.
Sotbap Hansang is a Korean restaurant in Idong-eup, Yongin, Gyeonggi, serving neatly prepared set meals and pot rice. We had the spicy webfoot octopus, squid, and pork belly stir-fry set with beef yukjeon and crispy flounder, then found an unmanned café inside. Verdict: a filling, convenient meal near Yongin University.
Seoul Myeonok is a cold noodle restaurant right by Pyeongtaek Station in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi, serving a third-generation recipe since 1973. I tried Pyongyang naengmyeon, bibim naengmyeon, and a half plate of Korean pork boiled meat. Verdict: Seoul Myeonok is a great pick for a clean, deeply flavored bowl of naengmyeon.
Yeonnam Jokbal 1987 Jonggak Branch is a Korean restaurant in Jongno, Seoul, serving jokbal and bossam. I shared fried jokbal, cold spicy makguksu, and Yeosu cockles with somyeon at roomy tables with a rotating center. A solid choice for group dinners or dates.
Kim Myeongju Tteuranchae Bapsang, Jungdong Branch is a Korean restaurant in Bucheon, Gyeonggi, serving set meals with pot rice, side dishes, and cheonggukjang. I paired semi-dried barley corvina with green tea water and white rice, then filled up on self-serve side dishes and scorched rice. Verdict: a comfortable choice for a family meal with parents or a group gathering.
Hubaldae Daegu Jongno Branch is a Korean BBQ restaurant in Jung-gu, Daegu, serving fresh pork belly with potato wraps. I reserved for a late weekday dinner and enjoyed staff-grilled pork belly and special fried rice without waiting. Verdict: a delicious pick for pork and basil potato wraps in Jongno.
Tonka is a Japanese tonkatsu restaurant in Gangdong, Seoul. At dinner, I compared loin and tenderloin tonkatsu with mushroom soup and wasabi salt; both stayed juicy without feeling greasy. Verdict: an easy, satisfying stop for solo dining or a date.
Sunny's Pizza Market is a pizza restaurant in Mapo, Seoul, known for cheese-crust pizzas and unlimited garlic dipping sauce when dining in. I returned after work for large pepperoni and Smooth Potato pizzas, both with cheese crust, and loved the salty-and-creamy contrast. For a cheese-loaded pizza, dine in.
Pujutgan Saenggogi-jeom is a Korean barbecue restaurant in Haengdang Market, Seongdong, Seoul. Three of us ordered two portions each of pork jowl and pork belly, while staff grilled everything nearly to serving-ready. Verdict: a great pick for properly crisp pork jowl and potatoes cooked in pork fat.
Bueokgan Sangmu Branch is a brunch restaurant in Seo-gu, Gwangju, with a vintage classic Italian hotel concept. I ordered shrimp anchovy oil pasta, abalone cream risotto, pepperoni pizza, and pumpkin soup on a weekday morning. Verdict: the abalone cream risotto is absolutely worth ordering.
Ichigyu Gwanghwamun Branch is a gyukatsu and steak restaurant in Jongno, Seoul, near Cheonggyecheon Stream. We grilled sirloin steak and gyukatsu over a mini brazier, with fried sides and a 200ml Kirin draft beer. Verdict: a fun, easy choice for a date-night dinner after a walk.
